Match Report: Mullen vs. LC @ Fort Collins High School

 Mullen vs. Liberty Common

Location: Fort Collins High School Turf (3400 Lambkin Way, Fort Collins, CO 80525)

Varsity @4pm

JV @2pm

This is an away game, so we are white/gold(blue)/white - please make sure to eat a hardy lunch, and all varsity players should continue to snack and hydrate prior to the game.

Liberty Strengths: 

Tactical: From what we can see, this is a well structured Liberty Common team who moves on and off the ball really well. The CBs shift nicely into position to cover for one another, and it is very clear that they are well coached and have a tactical identity. This structure in the back has handed them a fair amount of shut out wins this season, and they have proven difficult to break down in direct play.

*dynamic runs up top, a well executed press on their back line, balls into the corners are going to be an essential part of trying to shift this back line out of position and break them down.

Technical: Additionally, Liberty has a handful of incredibly good/technical players. They can move the ball around the midfield nicely, and with time, their first touch has shown to be quite impressive. They use their technical advantage against weaker teams to employ a possession based model that then allows them to penetrate along the wings.

*the biggest thing for us here is that we can't chase or dive in throughout the midfield. We saw in the film on the Eagle game that we are over pressing (running past our player we are supposed to contain), or chasing in the midfield, and both circumstances resulted in eventual goals. It will be important that we keep our shape, do our jobs and contain their players going forward. We need to choose our tackles wisely, and when we go in, go in hard.

Wing play: In the film that I saw, this proved to be the strongest part of their game. They keep their wingers very wide (Man City style) with the intent of stretching out the defense. When they can get in behind, the wingers make strong penetrating runs on goal. From an organizational standpoint, they really switch the ball well, and move quickly through the midfield to engage the weak side wing in transition.

*We can not get stretched out against this system. Our weakside winger needs to make sure to share their weakside winger with our OB when we are defending and in transition. Additionally, if we can stifle the switch and win balls in the middle of the park, we can disrupt this system.

Lastly, on this note, the LC wings don't do a lot of marking, they like to stay high and wait for the through ball. We need to find our elevated outside backs, they will be open, and when we pose this threat, it will force the LC wingers back onto defense which will further disrupt their system of attack.

LC weaknesses:

LC has not demonstrated a lot of weaknesses in their game, other than the fact that they seemed to struggle with the speed and athleticism of Valor Christian.

So this brings two points forward:

1. LC has not seen strong competition in a handful of weeks. If we can bring the game to them, fast and strong, there will inevitably be an adjustment period where they are forced to reacclimate to the pace of play. It does not appear that they have been pressed hard, and they seem to thrive with a fair amount of time. I would think that our primary goal would be to reduce their amount of time on the ball and force them into mistakes. 

2. They don't appear to play in a particularly physical/fast league. We should not be dirty, but we should be physical. Find the contact on marks and on our press. Make sure the LC players know you are there all game long. We should make strong tackles, and we should be hungry on clearances and in front of the goal to score on set pieces.

Additional key to success:

You will be in Fort Collins, the refs will give you nothing. Do not expect it, and do not speak to them!

Remember:

If we can limit our mistakes, we limit their opportunities, and we can keep them out of the back of our net.

-make sure that our match ups are good on corners and set pieces

-don't allow for mistakes to compound. If you make a mistake, close down the player and stop forward progress. Allow us to reset and get shape.

Set pieces:

(Corners)

1 - Low driven ball to the near post. Two attackers crash the near post, other attackers fill in the middle and back post. 

2- Short corner overlap. Attackers cover near, middle, far - slight delay on the run in.

3- short corner choice. The players taking the corner will choose to overlap or take on the player. Attackers cover all positions, and delay runs in.

Jolly - Bend it in the goal. Attackers cover all locations, especially back post. Anything that goes long should be headed back toward goal.

Bumblebee - cluster around the goalie inside the six. Ball should be played into the cluster. 

White - Chipped ball to the near post flicked across the goal. Remember, initial runners attack the near and far post and bounce off. When the front post runner bounces off the near post, the ball should be played and the remaining attackers should be making runs toward goal.

Blue - Long ball to the back post. Like "white" runners should bounce off the near and far post, but this corner will be played long to the back post. The back post runner should then play the ball back across the middle of the goal for the finish. 

7- We set up in 2, but play a long ball out. That ball is then played back to the 2 or a penetrating run is made into the box. Fire the ball on an inswing to the back post and look for the player crashing on the opposite flank.

Snake - this essentially "1" but higher. Two runners near the top of the box, even with the near post, and a group of runners at the top of the box even with the far post. All runners complete an "x" route. Near post both attack the far post, while one runner goes to the corner on a diversion run. The ball is played on the ground, left by the first runner and struck first time by the trailing runner.

11 - Three runners at the near post, two at the back. The three runners circle around to the near post, middle, and far post, while the two at the back make direct runs across the goal.

Reminders: 

1. No mistakes out of the back. Smart decisions and smart passes that avoid the counter.

2. Exploit the space on the flanks and at the top of the box. Outside backs need to get involved in the attack. They should have space to move forward, and their attack will spread the midfield.

    -Outside backs need to dribble at the LC full backs and then distribute the ball into space or feet. One/Twos around the defense will be very effective.

3. Know the set pieces. Capitalize on set pieces. If we can take advantage of these moments, we will have a great deal of success. 

4. Discipline and structure in the back. We need to hold position and recover for one another. 

5. When in possession of the ball in our defensive third, we need to play quickly, not get the ball stuck under our feet, and play into space instead of small spaces. It is a big field, don't fear the dynamic long ball.

6. Patience. We can't chase them all game. We will have to be okay giving up moments of possession in order to strike when the timing is right. Marking assignment and a high level of confrontation will be key!

7. We need to keep the ball out of the middle of the field in the central third. Swinging the ball quickly through the 6 and the 10 will open up the attack so that outside backs and wingers can serve.

Good luck!